Villas Orpheus & Eurydice

One of the most famous and tragic of the Greek myths, the story of Orpheus and Eurydice has inspired countless romantics, from Dante to Gustav Moreau. More recently, it inspired Katie and Jonny Friedman, the British husband and wife team who own these two gorgeous rental villas in the Greek islands.

Virgil tells the story of how Orpheus' wife, Eurydice, died from a snakebite to her heel and descended into the underworld. Using his talents as a musician, Orpheus persuaded the gods to allow him to search for her. The god Hades said that she could return to life if Orpheus agreed to lead her to the upper world without turning to look back. When he crossed over from Hades, Orpheus forgot himself and turned to see her face, losing Eurydice forever to death.

Located on the island of Mykonos, these two villas are ethereal and romantic, like the myth itself, but not at all dark. In fact, they're flooded with light and decorated from ceiling to floor in white. Katie and Jonny were married themselves at Villa Eurydice, which they now rent — along with Orpheus — to vacationers and wedding parties.

Appropriately, the two houses are separated from one another by the hilltop landscape. Eurydice sleeps 10, while Orpheus accommodates 8-10, and a week-long stay will cost you anywhere from €1,500 to €16,000, depending on the villa and the season. For more information, visit the Mykonos Villa website.